What is it?

826 Valencia is a quirky yet magical center based in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. The Tenderloin neighborhood is known for it's violence and crime and has been undergoing tech-driven gentrification. A local business owner needed to provide a storefront to stay in his current building and the rest is history. Children and adults alike can head into 826 Valencia and experience a setting rich in creative and inspiring details, all while learning about reading and writing. To comply with the city regulations, the center boasts a storefront that is pirate themed, and sells everything from traditional pirate goods to shirts and even dental floss for ogres!

For more information, check out the following articles:
Mashable
GenslerOn